Die and dice-box



(No Model.)

M, SOHOTT. DIE AND DICE BOX.

No. 435.635. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MATHILDE SCIIOTT, OF NE\V HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

DIE AND DICE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,635, dated September 2, 1890.

Application filed July 30, 1890. Serial No. 360,394. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MATHILDE SoHoTT, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dice and Dice-Boxes, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in the game of dice-throwing, or in the apparatus therefor, whether it be used as a game or as a counter or indicator in connection with other games or trials of hazard or chance.

It is well understoodthat in the game of dicethrowing several dice are generally thrown from a box held in the hand of the player, and after the sum of their value is computed they are picked up and again put in the box preparatory to again throwing them. These are inconveniences that it is the object of my invention to overcome-that is, it is the object of my invention to dispense with all but one die for use in a hand dice-box instead of using three or four, as is usual, and yet, when desired, to not materially lessen the range of numbers or values in counting that appertain to four Ordinary dice.

The invention consists of a bottle-shaped hand dice-box, which is preferably closed so that the die cannot fall from it whatever be its position, and is provided with a chamber in which the die can freely turn in any direction, anda contracted or neck portion of approximately the size, in cross-section, of the die used, which contracted portion has an opening permitting the observation of a num ber placed on the sides or faces of the die when lying in that portion of the box; also of a die having numbers or marks of value on each of its sides or faces when used as a dicebox, as above described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is an elevation view of a dice-box made in accord ance with my invention, with a die in position therein. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the box with the cover removed. Fig. a is a perspective View of my improved die, and Fig. 5 is a modified construction of the box and die.

In the views, Ais the die. This is a block of any suitable material having any desired number of sides, though I prefer to use a cube.

In order to provide the usual range of numbers or values, I prefer to mark each side or face of the die with four numbers near the corners of such faces, as seen in Fig. 4, which will give a range of numbers from 1 to 2l,inelusive. For convenience in locating these numbers the faces of the die may be divided into four equal squares, and a number placed in each square. It will therefore be seen, in using such a die, if but a single number be read from successively-exposed faces, that the values of the single numbers, as well as the range of their values, is substantially the same as though four dice of the common form and numbering were employed and the sum of the values of their exposed faces taken at every throw.

13 represents the dice-box, which may be of any suitable material. This box is closed by a lid C, and is preferably corrugated upon its inner surface at D to give the die a rolling motion when it is being thrown. The body or main portion E of the box is large enough to permit the die to be turned over in any direction and gradually curves to the contracted socket-neck F, which is at its lower end of a square form in cross-section and a trifle larger than the die A, thus forming a bottle -shaped chamber, in which the die moves. At the end of this neck is an open ing G, smaller than the die, through which a number or mark of value on one face of the die can be seen.

Any form of die may be used in this box, provided it is of such shape that the number or mark of value upon one of the faces will be brought opposite the opening G, where it can be readily observed.

If it is desired to give a greater range of value than can be obtained from the numbers on the die when taken separately, one or more additional openings G may be made in the neck, each of which will register with a number upon the faces of the die when in position, and the sum of the numbers then exposed may be taken.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 5 the opening G is located centrally through the wall of the neck F of the box, and the die A, instead of being marked with four numbers upon each of its sides, is marked with a single number or mark of value, which may be a numeral or other mark, as a dot or series of dots, located centrally upon each face of the die, so that when the box has been shaken and turned down to bring the die into position on the bottom of the neck F the number or mark upon one of the faces will register with the opening G. This construction employs the same principle hereinbefore describednamely, a single die numbered upon each of its faces and capable of being turned in the chamber E of the box to bring any one of its faces opposite to the opening G-and though the range of values is quite limited it can be used for many purposes.

In practice, the box is tossed or shaken by the hand of the player and then it is held upright, as in Figs. 1 and 5, with the opening G toward the player. As the box is brought to this position the die falls into the contracted neck and one of the numbers upon one of its faces appears through the opening G and indicates the value of the players throw. By these means the game may be carried on with one die under conditions the same as is common to the ordinary dice, and without the inconvenience of continually adding the separate values of the dice and picking them up and returning them to the box. Furthermore, these improved implements of the game are cheaper, and the die is both protected and preserved with the box against being lost or misplaced. This box and die may be used for most of the purposes to which the common dice are applicable. They may be used to determine a chance count in other games, or to indicate the order of play, as in the game of billiardsknown as pool. There are also various uses that this box is capable ot'as a toy, a game, or as apart of a game but it is not essential to mention these here, as the foregoing explains the purpose and use of the invention.

I am aware that it has been proposed to make a dice-box revolving in fixed supports and containing five or more dice, each having four numbers on one face only, the dice being held in the box so that the common plane of their numbered faces cannot change, and there being openings in the box through which one number on each face of three dice could be seen. This I do not claim. My die and box are constructed to obviate any addition of values and the use of more than one die, which is capable of being turned in any direction in the large chamber E of the box,

so that the numbers upon all of the sides or faces may be brought opposite the opening G.

\Vhat is claimed as new is 1. A dice-box consisting of a chamber in which the die can turn freely in any direction, and a neck or socket of substantially the shape of the die, the neck being provided with an opening of less area than the face of the die, through which the numbers on the faces of the die, when opposite the opening, can be seen.

2. The combination of a die having each of its sides or faces numbered or provided with a mark or marks of value, and a dice-box con- 'sisting of a chamber in which the die can turn freely in any direction, and a neck or socket of substantially the shape of the die, the neck being provided with an opening through which the numbers on the faces of the die can be seen.

3. The combination of a die having each of 80 its facesor sides marked with four numbers or other marks of value, and a dice-box consisting of a chamber in which the die can turn freely in any direction, and a neck or socket of substantially the shape of the die, the neck being provided with an opening through which the numbers on =-the faces of the die can be seen.

MATHILDE SCHOTT.

WVitnesses:

FRITZ ROTHE, GEORGE SPERRY. 

